Expectations and satisfaction of runners with injury treatments

Seventy-eight runners competing in three Iowa races were surveyed concerning their most recent running injury for which they sought medical care from a family physician, an orthopedic surgeon, or a podiatrist. Their reasons for choosing a doctor, expectations of care, and satisfaction with treatment received were assessed. Most patients selected the orthopedic (50%) or podiatric (42%) physicians upon the recommendation of other runners; only 13% of the family physicians were selected from recommendations. Orthopedic and podiatric patients were more likely than family physician patients to expect x-rays. There was no difference in overall patient satisfaction with treatment received from the three groups of physicians. The runners felt that all physician groups treated their running injuries equally well.